Four months after officially joining the BRICS, Indonesia is understood to be kicking the tyres on second hand fighter aircraft from the two dictatorships that bookend the alliance: China and Russia.
An online report suggests Indonesia's upcoming military procurement could include 42 J-10 fighters modified in China, plus the purchase of Su-35 fighters from Russia.
Alert-5 website says an announcement could be made in Jakarta next month during the Indo Defence Expo and Forum from 11-14 June.
The pending transactions have not yet been confirmed by Indonesia nor its suppliers, China and Russia.
However, Indonesia's imminent decision to modernise its air force with second-hand fighter aircraft from China and Russia marks a major pivot from the country’s recent preoccupation with acquiring mostly western military equipment.
Within its diversified aviation combat fleet, Indonesia has typically maintained and operated fighter aircraft from multiple suppliers including American F-16s, Russian Su-27/30s, and British Aerospace Hawks.
The country abandoned initial plans to buy Russian Su-35s following the threat of United States sanctions in 2021.
Under the initial agreement, Indonesia had planned to buy 11 Su-35 fighter jets, a deal that was expected to be executed over several years.
However, the political fallout from Russia’s military actions and the imposition of international sanctions made it increasingly difficult for Indonesia to move forward.
According to the Alert-5 report, Indonesia is attracting Chinese and Russian aircraft is the prospect of faster delivery timelines while avoiding complex approval processes.
"The second-hand J-10 fighters will be delivered relatively quickly by drawing from the People's Liberation Army Air Force's inventory, providing immediate capability enhancement,” said Alert-5.
While Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has not commented on Indonesia’s plans to purchase Chinese or Russian military aircraft, Australian officials have confirmed that the country’s closest neighbour will not host Russian planes at its Papua province air base.
Meanwhile, Indonesia is also exploring participation in Türkiye’s fifth-generation fighter program, known as KAAN (formerly TF-X).
During a visit to Ankara, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed formal interest in joining the program, reflecting Indonesia’s goals to modernise its diverse and aging air fleet and diversify its international defense partnerships beyond traditional suppliers.
